5 Reasons Why a DNA Kit Makes the Best Gift

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Since DNA kits hit the consumer market, they’ve had a huge impacts on people’s lives - changing the way they view themselves, where they come from and how they relate to the world around them.

Here are 5 reasons why DNA kits are the best gift of 2017:

1. It's the Most Unique Gift You Can Give

A DNA test kit is the ultimate in personalization. It’s uniquely yours and something that holds so many surprises within it. No two strands of DNA are the same (except for identical twins) and taking a peek into your DNA is an experience that will truly be your own. Visit MyHeritage >>

2. The Joy of Discovery

Ever been curious about where you’re from? Or how you got to where you are today? It’s all in your DNA. Your DNA contains pieces of everyone who came before you, and looking at it can tell you a lot about who you are.

It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to discover something about yourself that you won’t be able to find out any other way. Visit 23andMe >>

3. DNA Results Bring Families Together

A test kit from MyHeritage ​can indicate, down to the percentage, how closely related you are to others in their database.

Which has led to some very emotional and unexpected results. From decades-long searches for birth parents answered with a simple swab of the cheek to scattered relatives finally able to connect.

And services like LivingDNA allow you to transfer results from other DNA testing companies for bonus insights and the possibility of expanding your family tree even more. Visit LivingDNA >>

4. DNA is at the Forefront of Science

Since scientists finished mapping the human genome in 2003, there has been a lot of excitement and momentum surrounding what lays hidden in our DNA.

The testing service 23andme is building on a cutting edge research program to provide medical insights to its customers. So, for now, that kind of information extends to predicting the texture of your ear wax, or your distaste for cilantro (it’s not you, it’s me).

But with time these discoveries can be hugely important - like being able to determine a predisposition to Alzheimer's or an increased likelihood of diabetes.

"You're donating your genetic information," says 23andme​ founder Anne Wojcicki. "We could make great discoveries if we just had more information...we could really change health care."

5. The More People Who Use the Test, the More We Understand Ourselves

DNA analysis is done by comparing and matching DNA samples from a reference database that consists of known ancestral populations.

As more people use the kits, the more accurate and detailed the information becomes.

MyHeritage already has a huge database that pulls from millions of registered users, but as it expands its ancestral reports - which now includes 25 ethnicities - can grow to more than 100 ethnicities.

So, with time, a DNA test won't just indicate you're 20% Greek - it'll tell you exactly which Greek island you come from.

So, if you want to give the most unique gift of 2017, try a DNA kit from MyHeritage. For just $79 you can help someone get to know a whole lot more about themselves.